With Canyon News reaching the far corners of Los Angeles County; Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Malibu, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Laurel Canyon, Benedict Canyon, Topanga Canyon, Santa Monica, Westwood, Hollywood Hills, Pacific Palisades, Los Feliz, and Melrose; we (I) thought it would be interesting to mention a few of our members and supporters who live in some of the neighborhood communities and what they are doing for the holidays:

In alphabetical order (of course)

Bel Air

Paula Kent Meehan and

Sandy Krause  – see Ruta Lee

Benedict Canyon

Hugh O’Brian.  Founder and President of HOBY.org  (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership), one of the Founders of The Thalians, actor (“Wyatt Earp”).  Will be heading to New York with best friend Virginia Barber for Christmas Eve in New York, then off to London to celebrate Christmas Day and await the arrival of 2004.

Beverly Hills

Bob and Toni Holt Kramer – see Ruta Lee

Hollywood Hills

Whitney Hall.  Actress.  Whitney heads for New York to spend the holidays with good friends.  Her plans are to stay in the Big Apple through New Year's Eve.

Laurel Canyon

Ruta Lee and Webb Lowe. It will be an Eastern European Christmas for them. Along with Paula Kent Meehan, Sandy Krause, and Bill Fitzgerald from Bel Air and Bob and Toni Holt Kramer from Beverly Hills, they are flying to Salzburg…then taking the train to Munich, continuing on the rails through Budapest and winding up Christmas Eve in Prague looking for St. Nicholas.  They will be flying over all time zones, crossing the North Pole and waving to Santa on their/his return, arriving home Christmas midday.

Los Feliz

Ben DePinto. A member of The Thalians for 43 years! Ben heads to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas where he will spend holiday time with his favorite slot machine and enjoy New Year’s Eve with long time friend Debbie Reynolds, who will be performing at the Gold Coast.

Malibu

Alyson Dutch. Owner Brown Dutch PR.  Recently named Southern California Section Chief, National Ski Patrol.  Alyson will be using this time for personal skiing at Mammoth. Of course, with her keen observation and dedication, she will quickly become available should Santa's sleigh lose its way!

Melrose

Dan Klemuk. Owner of The Greenbriar.  Our ballroom designer, Dan is decorating trees in magnificent Greenbriar style for his clients which include Sherwood Country Club and many celebrity star homes i.e. Mitzi Gaynor. Dan plans to partake of many hot toddies with his fabulous friends and enjoy the fruits of his labor. 

Sherman Oaks

Lila and Denny Niles.  Lila is enjoying her 19^th year as Office Manager at the Thalians’ office. Home for the holidays, they will be entertaining a big family not only coming from across the street but Seattle, Washington and Whittier. Joining them will be the grandkids Eric, 19, Rene Richard, 11, Nicholas, 9, and Challis, 2.

Studio City

Marvin Paige. Casting and Motion Picture and Television Research Archive. Our own Mr. Show Business.  Knows everyone and is always supportive to the Thalians’ needs, especially for memorabilia on our celebrity Wonderful(s). Marvin will be attending all the gala parties, Academy screenings, and Egyptian Theater American Cinematique Events.  You can bet he will have a lovely celebrity on his arm.

Westwood

Bob and Nikki Bernard.  Bob is a personal manager for several celebrities.  They are heading for Las Vegas to celebrate their 29^th anniversary on December 8^th. Interestingly, they met at The Thalians Ball 1974 and now have 5 children and 3 grandkids: Matthew, 19, Alexander, 17, and little Rachel, 3 ½.

                                                            *************

On behalf of all The Thalians, we wish everyone a happy, healthy and most prosperous New Year.  It has been a joy to be with you these last few months and we look forward to seeing you around the campus in 2004.

Happy Holidays.

The Thalians are dedicated to solving America’s No. 1 health problem: mental illness.  More people suffer from mental disorders than all other diseases combined.